Delicacy facts for kids
A delicacy is usually a rare and expensive food item that is considered highly desirable, sophisticated, or peculiarly distinctive within a given culture. Irrespective of local preferences, such a label is typically pervasive throughout a region. Often this is because of unusual flavors or characteristics or because it is rare or expensive compared to standard staple foods.
Delicacies vary per different countries, customs and ages. Flamingo tongue was a highly prized dish in ancient Rome, but is not commonly eaten in modern times. Lobsters were considered poverty food in North America until the mid-19th century when they started being treated, as they were in Europe, as a delicacy. Some delicacies are confined to a certain culture, such as fugu in Japan, bird's nest soup (made out of swiftlet nests) in China, and ant larvae (escamoles) in Mexico or refer to specific local products, such as porcino, venison or anchovy.
Examples of delicacies
- Abalone (Bao Yu/Awabi) – China; Japan
- Akutaq – Alaska, United States; Northern Canada; Siberia
- Alligator meat – Southern United States
- Alici, from the Gulf of Trieste near Barcola – Italy
- Balut – Philippines
- Biltong – Southern Africa
- Bird's nest soup – China
- Black-headed gull eggs – United Kingdom
- Black sausage (Mustamakkara) – Finland
- Bottarga – Mediterranean Basin
- Bourbon – Kentucky and Louisiana, United States
- Casu marzu – Sardinia, Italy
- Caviar – Russia; Azerbaijan; Iran
- Cempedak – Indonesia; Malaysia; Southern Thailand
- Champagne – Champagne region of France
- Conpoy – China
- Droëwors – Southern Africa
- Durian – Borneo; Sumatra
- East Asian giant salamander – China; Japan
- Escamol – Mexico City, Mexico
- Escargot – France
- European edible dormouse – Croatia; Slovenia
- Filet mignon – France
- Foie gras – Périgord region of France
- Fried-brain sandwich – Indiana, Ohio, and St. Louis, United States
- Fried tarantula – Skuon, Cambodia
- Fugu – Japan
- Gyromitra esculenta – Scandinavia
- Guinea pig – Bolivia; Colombia; Ecuador; Peru
- Haggis – Scotland
- Hákarl – Iceland
- Huitlacoche – Mexico
- Hutki Shira – Sylhet, Bangladesh
- Iberian ham (Jamón ibérico) – Spain; Portugal
- Ikizukuri – Japan
- Edible jellyfish – East Asia; Southeast Asia
- Karasumi – Japan; Taiwan
- Kiviak – Greenland
- Kobe beef – Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
- Kopi luwak – Indonesia
- Lobster – Maine, Massachusetts, and New York, United States; The Maritimes, Canada; Sabah, Malaysia
- Locust – Arabia; China; Israel; Jewish diaspora
- Matsusaka beef – Matsusaka and Mie Prefecture, Japan
- Moonshine – Scotland; Ireland; Appalachia
- Mud Creeper – Malaysia; Vietnam
- Ortolan bunting – France
- Pickled cucumber – northern and eastern Europe
- Raw oysters – Malaysia; France; United States
- Quail eggs (including pickled quail eggs) – Brazil; Colombia; Denmark; Ecuador; Indonesia; Japan; Philippines; South Korea; Venezuela; Vietnam
- Rocky Mountain oysters – Argentina; Canada; Mexico; Spain; United States
- Scallops – Galicia, Spain; Japan; Taiwan
- Sea cucumber – East Asia; Southeast Asia
- Shark fin soup – China
- Shiokara – Japan
- Shirako (milt) – Indonesia; Japan; Korea; Romania; Russia; Sicily, Italy
- Smalahove – Western Norway
- Snail caviar – France; Poland
- Snake soup – Guangdong, China; Hong Kong; Austria; France; United Kingdom; United States
- Spiny-tailed lizard - Arabia
- Surströmming – Sweden
- Truffle – Caucasus; Middle East; Southern Europe
- Tyrolean grey cheese – Austria
See also
In Spanish: Manjar para niños